LOL! Tough crowd.

I'll go ahead and say what the previous posters are trying to do in their veiled attempts - the Motiv bike sucks. At least for enthusiast mountain bikers. To the laymen who ride once in a blue moon, yeah it's ok, save your money for something else.

You live in an area that offers up awesome riding, Skeggs and Wilder Ranch come to mind. I used to live in Mtn View and had fun riding all over the Bay Area. If you're really going to get serious, then by all means spring for the Specialized FS bike. BTW, which shop is offering the closeouts? I got my Stumpjumper FSR on closeout for pretty cheap from GoRide bikes in Redwood City a while back.

BTW - it's not Ivory League, it's Ivy League. But since you din't go from any of those schools I wouldn't expect you to know.